An Olympic sport since 1908, hockey is the oldest known ball and
stick game. It was so popular in the Middle Ages that is was banned for a while in England
because people should have been spending their free time practising archery instead; for
national defence.

The first Olympic Hockey Competition for men was held at the London 1908 Olympic Games; with England, Ireland and
Scotland competing separately.

After its first appearance in the 1908 Games, hockey was dropped from
the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games, then reappeared at Antwerp 1920 before being dropped again in Paris in 1924;
because the sport had no international federation.

FIH:
After Hockey was dropped from the Paris 1924 Olympic Games because the sport didn't have
an international federation, one was founded in Paris that year -- under the initiative of
Frenchman, Paul Léautey.

National Hockey Associations

England Hockey:
England Hockey is a new company, limited by guarantee. It has been the National Governing
Body (NGB) of the sport since December 2002 having succeeded the English Hockey
Association (EHA) who had to suspend operations earlier in 2002 because of significant
financial problems.

Field Hockey Canada:
Field Hockey Canada (FHC) is the national sport governing body for field hockey in Canada.

Hockey Australia:
The outstanding achievements of the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos have made hockey one of
Australia's most prominent non-professional sports.

Indian Hockey Federation:
The foundation of the Indian Hockey Federation were thus laid with Col. Bruce Turnball as
President and Mr. N.H. Ansari as Honorary Secretary. It was however, not till 1927 that
the Federation started functioning as a live body. Its headquarters were shifted from
Gawalior to Delhi.

New Zealand Hockey Federation:
New Zealand Hockey Federation aims to offer the widest possible opportunities for all
persons through participation and achievement in the game of hockey while still providing
a healthy, social recreational environment for all.